Process and apparatus for treating textile materials with a liquid



April 4, 1961 v. "r. FAHRINGER 2,978,291

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS WITH A LIQUID Filed Sept. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGZL INVENTOR VICTOR T. FAHRINGER 6 BY MMf ATTORNEYS A ril 4, 1961 v. T. FAHRINGER 2,978,291

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS WITH A LIQUID Filed Sept. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR VICTOR T. FAHRI NGER ATTORNEYS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS WITH A LIQUID Victor T. Fahringer, Clarksville, Va., assignor to Burlington Industries, Inc., Greensboro, N.C., a corporation of Delaware The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for treating cloth or other textile materials with a liquid, typically dye liquor, or washing and scouring process. The invention is especially useful in the dyeing of cloth in rope form although it will be appreciated from the following detailed description that other uses are also contemplated. 7

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a unique method and apparatus for moving cloth or other textile material through a liquid treating bath without mechanical motivation such as driving reels, rolls or the like. Another object of the invention is the provision of a method and apparatus which are peculiarly adapted for use in operations involving treatments with liquid at elevated pressure and temperature. A more specific object-of the invention is the provision of novel equipment which is especially suitable for, although not limited to, the high temperature dyeing'of cloth in rope form. A further object is the provision of relatively simple apparatus involving the use of a minimum amount of equipment for dyeing or otherwise liquid treating cloth or the like. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a method which relies upon the use of a moving stream of treating liquid to move the cloth or other material. through the treating bath. Additional objects will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

Broadly stated, the present method comprises the steps of: providing a bath of treating liquid; withdrawing a portion of liquid from the bath; recycling this withdrawn portion of liquid; forming the recycled liquid into a conical jet of diminishing cross-section by passing same into a venturi, discharging the liquid from said venturi in the form of a confined stream moving in a closed, arcuate path, preferably semi-circular, which extends upwardly from one side of the bath and discharges downwardly into the bath at the opposite side thereof; and introducing the material to be treated, preferablycloth in rope form,

into substantially the center of the moving stream of liquid whereby the material introduced therein is drawn along with the stream, discharged into the bath and circulated through same solely by the moving force of the liquid stream. j

An important feature of the invention, as broadly described above, resides in the step of introducing the cloth or equivalent material into the centerdof the moving stream of liquid. To this end, the invention contemplates the provision of a highly advantageous annular jet nozzle and venturi arrangement in the liquid path for centering the cloth orothermaterial in the liquid stream.

V Theinvention is ,further described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

States Patent 42 Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2, a cylindrical pressure vessel or tank 2 supported on a horizontal axis by suitable base means 4. Vessel 2 may include appropriate means for access to the interior thereof, e.g. a hand porthole 5, which may be used for filling the vessel with dye liquor or other liquid L to any desired level as shown in Figure 2.

Located in the bottom of vessel 2, preferably but not necessarily in the center thereof, is a liquid outlet 6. The latter communicates through a conduit 8 with the intake side of a pump 10. This pump 10, which is located externally of vessel 2, is the only element of the present system which includes any mechanical moving part.

The discharge side of pump 10 is connected to another pipe 12, the latter feeding into one end of a curved tube 14 mounted in the top portion of vessel 2 and extending from above one side of the liquid therein to a point above the other side, preferably, as shown, in substantially semicircular fashion.

Tube 14 includes a liquid inlet 16 for connection with the pipe 12. Adjacent this inlet, the tube is also provided with a material inlet 18. An outlet 20 is included at the v opposite end of tube 14, same opening downwardly to discharge liquid and cloth or other material into vessel 2. It will be appreciated that the inlets 16 and 18 and/or outlet 20 may be extended so as to be submerged in the liquid L. However, it is preferred to have the ends of the tube terminate a short distance above the liquid level.

The apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be used as follows: Liquid is first placed within vessel 2 to supply the desired bath L. This liquid may be introduced through porthole 5' or other filling means may beused,

'eg. a separate liquid source may be connected with the circulating system so as to feed the desired amount of liquid in through tube 14. In any event, after the desired amount of liquid is in the vessel, a portion thereof is continuously withdrawn through outlet 6 in the bottom of vessel 2. and fed to the intake side of circulating pump 10 by means of conduit 8. Pump 10 discharges the liquid into pipe 12 which in turn empties into the liquid inlet 16 of the tube 14. The liquid is then forced through tube 14 by pump 10 in the form of a confined stream moving in a semi-circular path which extends upwardly from one side of thebath and then discharges downwardly through outlet 20 into bath L. Material to be treated, eg an end of cloth C in rope form, may be fed through porthole 5 into the inlet 18 of tube. As will be described later, the cloth end is drawn into the center of the stream of liquid moving through tube 14 with the result that the cloth is effectively carried through the tube and discharged from outlet 29 into the vessel by the force of the stream pumped through the tube.

Due to the curvature of the tube and the force of the liquid stream pumped therethrough, the cloth C discharged from outlet 20 moves through the bath towards inlet 18, that is, in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2. After the desired amount of cloth has accumulated in the bath, the end of the cloth which is advancing through the bath may be sewed or otherwise joined to the other end of the cloth, hand porthole 5 being used for this purpose. The resulting closed loop o'f cloth may then be continuously circulated through the tube and bath, by means of the liquid pumped through tube 14,'for as long as may be neces- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment r of the invention;

1; and

sary to complete the desired treatment. I

Desi'rably,fa screen 22 or the like is provided in the vessel z about outlet 6to prevent the cloth from being withdrawn 'therethrough.

illustrates a pre or other material As indicated heretofore, Figure 3 ferred arrangement for feedingthe cloth centrally into' the moving stream of liquid forced through 7 tube 14 bycirculating pump10. Referring 'rnore s'pecifically to Figure 3, the material'inlet 18, heretofore mentioned, comprises a pipe member 24 which projects into tube 14- and is attached thereto by threads 26. The threaded attachment provides means for adjusting the position of the tapered inner end 27 of the member 24 within tube 14 for purposes hereinafter apparent. .Suit'able means, e.g. a lock nut 28 and rubber sealing washer. 30 may .be mounted about the outer end of tube 14 and pipemember 24 to prevent the leakage of liquid between. these members.

While the position of the inner end 27 of pipe member 24 may be adjusted, as indicated heretofore, the length of pipe member 24 should be such that in any of its positions, end 27 is located inwardly of liquid inlet 16. Additionally, the external diameter of pipe member 24 should be smaller, e.g. approximately 25% smaller than the corresponding internal dimension of the tube so as to provide an annular liquid space 32 about member 24.

Inwardly of the inner end 27 of pipe member 24, the interior of tube 14 is provide with a circumferential projection 34. This projection forms a venturi or circular orifice 36 with the pipe end 27. With this arrangement, liquid fed through inlet 16 from conduit 12 flows into annular space 32 and inwardly along the external surface of pipe member 24 through orifice 36. Passage of the liquid through orifice 36 forms a liquid jetcircumferentially about pipe end 27. As a result, the cloth or other material fed into pipe member 24 is pulled through end 27 into the center of the liquid stream, the latter then drawing the material through tube 14 for discharge into tank 2, as heretofore described. As will be apparent, the size of orifice 36 may be regulated, as desired, by means of the threaded attachment 26 between tube 14 and pipe member 24. Desirably, to minimize turbulence, the tapered end 27 and the opposed surface of projection 34 have the same angular disposition. Inlet 16 may also be tapered outwardly as shown at 38 for the same purpose.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made in the invention as described above. Thus, for example, while it is generally convenient to use a tube 14 having a circular internal cross section, one of a different cross section, e.g. square or rectangular, may be used, if desired. It will be recognized that the nature and size of the tube cross section will be varied depending upon the type of material to be treated. With cloth in rope form, a circular pipe is usually preferred while with fiat'fabric, a tube having a rectangular orifice might be more desirable.

The method and apparatus described herein may be used to treat all types of textile material, in any form. Typically, woven and non-woven fabrics-in such widely varying forms as carpets and ribbons, rope,-yarn bundles, filaments, etc., comprising natural or synthetic fibers, e.g. cotton, wool, rayon, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron), and acrylic polymers. such as Orlon or Acrilan, may be treated according to the invention.

Because of the absence of moving parts for circulating the cloth through the liquid bath, tube 14 may be totally enclosed within a pressure cylinder, as illustrated, to effect the high temperature and pressure dyeing-of cloth in rope form. The rapid movement of the dye'liquor, and the controlled movement of the cloth create excellent dye dispersion, quick and even dyeing. The advantages of high temperature dyeing are well known but up until the present invention, no method has been available for dyeing in rope form above atmospheric pressure.

While the invention is of especial'importance in connection with the hightemperature dyeing of cloth in rope jform usinga pressure cylinder, as described,'it is to be recognized that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may also be used to effect liquid treatments at atmospheric pressure and/or temperature. In such event, pressure cylinder 2 may simply be replaced by an open tank of appropriate size, the remainder of .the system being left the same.

its typical of operations accord ng to thepresent invention, the following example may be given: 60 gallons of dye liquor were fed into vessel 2 through porthole 5. Dye liquor at the rate of 4,200 gallons per hour was withdrawn through conduit 8 and circulated through tube 14 by pump 10. An end of Dacron and rayon blend cloth in rope form was fed into material inlet 18. After about yards of this cloth had accumulated in the vessel 2, the end of cloth in the bath was sewed to the opposite end through porthole 5. The system was then closed and suitably heated (e.g. C.). Circulation of dye liquor was continued for about one hour, the cloth being circulated continuously through the tube 14 and bath L, during this time. Using a pipe of approximately 2 inner diameter as the liquid inlet 16, a circular orifice 36 of about 1X32" opening, a semi-circular tube 14 having an internal diameter of about 4 inches and about 8 feet long, and a pipe member 24 of 3% inches OD. and 3 inches I.D., a highly desirable dyed product was obtained.

As further illustrating the results of the present invention, it can be mentioned that when operating at atmospheric pressure, dye. can be completely exhausted from the dye bath and deposited into cloth in twenty minutes. Under pressure and consequent higher temperatures, dye absorption time may be reduced by as much as one-half or evenmore. The overall dyeing time is, of course, dependent upon various operating factors.

While the apparatus illustrated in the drawings herein includes only one jet arrangement, a multiplicity of strands or the like can be treated by increasing the length of the pressure tank or open container and adding the desired number of jets operating from the same pump. In other words, the invention contemplates the use of a plurality of jets and associated tubes spaced along the length of the vessel in parallel for handling a pluralitythrough the bath to the same jet, it can be passed diagonally through as many jets as desired, entering the machine at one end and passing out through the opposite end.

The scope of the present invention is defined in the following claims wherein I claim:

1. A process for treating textile material in rope form with a liquid which comprises providing a zone containing the treating liquid; withdrawing a portion of the liquid from said zone; recycling the thus withdrawn liquid to a point within said zoneand adjacent one side thereof; forming the recycled liquid at this point into a conical jet of diminishing cross-section by passing said recycled liquid through a'venturi, the discharge from said venturi being passed across the top of said zone in a closed arcuate path which discharges downwardly into the treating liquid adjacent the opposite side of said zone; feeding one end of the textile material in rope form into substantially the center of said conical jet adjacent the point where said jet is formed whereby said textile material is drawn by said jet through said closed, arcuate pathand discharged downwardly into said liquid; allowing the discharged textile material to accumulate in said liquid, joining the discharged end of textile material with the other end of said textile material before the latter is fed into said jet thereby forming an endless band'of material and allowing said endless band to circulatethrough said bath andsaidclosed, arcuate path" solely by the' moving force of the liquid discharge from said venturi until said treatment is completed.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said zone is a closed zone, said arcuate path is essentially semicircular and semi-circular pipe within said vessel extending transversely from one side of the vessel to the other and defining a vertical plane, the ends of said pipe being positioned above the normal level of liquid therein; a downwardly directed cloth inlet at one end of said semi-circular pipe adjacent a side of the vessel and comprising a second pipe extending inwardly into the end of said semicircular pipe; a circumferential projection on the interior of said semi-circular pipe forming a venturi adjacent the inner end of said second pipe and inwardly thereof, said second pipe being adjustably mounted with respect to said semi-circular pipe to permit adjustment of the distance between the inner end of said second pipe and said venturi; a liquid inlet in said semi-circular pipe upstream from said venturi, an annular space about said second pipe communicating with said liquid inlet and opening into said venturi, a pump located externally of said vessel' including an inlet side and an outlet side, a conduit for withdrawing liquid from said vessel and feeding same to 'the inlet side of said pump, a second conduit receiving liquid from the outlet side of said pump and feeding liquid to the liquid inlet of said semi-circular pipe whereby the liquid is formed into a conical jet of diminishing cross-section at said venturi, said liquid being discharged from said venturi into said semi-circular pipe and drawing said cloth therethrough, said second pipe serving to center said cloth in said jet and a downwardly opening discharge outlet at the other end of said semicircular pipe for dischargingliquid and material drawn thereby downwardly into said vessel.

4. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of textile material in rope form which comprises a vessel for said treating liquid; means, for withdrawing liquid from said vessel; a curved conduit within said vessel and extending substantially completely across the top of said vessel, said conduit having a downwardly open inlet end at one side of the vessel for the admission of material thereto; a separate liquid inlet for said conduit adjacent said material inlet; a downwardly open outlet end for discharging both material and liquid into said vessel at the opposite side of said vessel; means for feeding liquid withdrawn from said vessel into said liquid inlet; venturi means adjacent said liquid inlet for converting the thus fed liquid into a conical liquid jet of diminishing cross-section and discharging liquid therefrom into said conduit for passage therethrough; and means for positioning in the center of said conical jet an end of textile material fed to said material inlet end whereby said material is drawn through said conduit and circulated through the liquid in said vessel solely by the action of liquid discharged from said venturi.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a plurality of said conduits spaced along the lengthof said vessel.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said vessel is a closed pressure tank, said conduit is a substantially semi-circular tube which defines a vertical plane and extends across the upper inner surface of said tank, and

the venturi means for forming said jet and centering said 7 end of material comprise a jet nozzle and venturi positioned within said conduit.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including pump means for withdrawing said liquid from the vessel and feeding the thus withdrawn liquid into said liquid inlet, said pump means being positioned externally of said closed tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,154,440 Schubert Sept. 21, 1915 1,845,775 Zavortnik et a1 Feb. 16, 1932 1 2,266,605 Jones et al Dec. 16, 1941 2,301,437 Milne Nov. 10, 1942 2,591,179 McBean Apr. 1, 1952 2,684,586 Cramer et al. July 27,1954 2,712,977 Keggin July 12, 1955 2,725,277 Rilling et al Nov. 29, 1955 

1. A PROCESS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIAL IN ROPE FORM WITH A LIQUID WHICH COMPRISES PROVIDING A ZONE CONTAINING THE TREATING LIQUID; WITHDRAWING A PORTION OF THE LIQUID FROM SAID ZONE, RECYCLING THE THUS WITHDRAWN LIQUID TO A POINT WITHIN SAID ZONE AND ADJACENT ONE SIDE THEREOF, FORMING THE RECYCLED LIQUID AT THIS POINT INTO A CONICAL JET OF DIMINISHING CROSS-SECTION BY PASSING SAID RECYCLED LIQUID THROUGH A VENTURI, THE DISCHARGE FROM SAID VENTURI BEING PASSED ACROSS THE TOP OF SAID ZONE IN A CLOSED ARCUATE PATH WHICH DISCHARGES DOWNWARDLY INTO THE TREATING LIQUID ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ZONE, FEEDING ONE END OF THE TEXTILE MATERIAL IN ROPE FORM INTO SUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTER OF SAID CONICAL JET ADJACENT THE POINT WHERE SAID JET IS FORMED WHEREBY SAID TEXTILE MATERIAL IS DRAWN BY SAID JET THROUGH SAID CLOSED, ARCUATE PATH AND DISCHARGED DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID LIQUID, ALLOWING THE DISCHARGED TEXTILE MATERIAL TO ACCUMULATE IN SAID LIQUID, JOINING THE DISCHARGED END OF TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID TEXTILE MATERIAL BEFORE THE LATTER IS FED 